>> ON THE SCENE TORONTO 2002: 27th Toronto International Film Fest Wraps with Awards

(indieWIRE: 09.15.02) — The 2002 Toronto International Film Festivalended with an awards brunch this morning at the Four Seasons Hotelin Toronto. The winner of the People’s Choice Award, the festival’s top prize,was presented to Niki Caro‘s “Whale Rider.” Runners-up were Michael Moore‘s “Bowling for Columbine” and Gurinder Chadha‘s “Bend it Like Beckham.”

The Discovery Award, selected by the press, went to Peter Mullan‘s “TheMagdalene Sisters.” Film critics presented the Fipresci prize to GaelMorel’s “Les Chemins de l’oued,” with an honorable mention for Susanne Bier‘s “Open Hearts” (Dogme). The Visions Award went to Russian filmmakerAlexandr Sokurov for “Russian Ark,” with a special citation for Fernando Meirelles‘ “City of God” and Gus Van Sant‘s “Gerry.”

David Cronenberg‘s “Spider” won the award for best Canadian feature, whilethe award for best Canadian first feature went to Wiebke von Carolsfeld‘s“Marion Bridge.” And, Ann Marie Fleming‘s “Blue Skies” won the award for bestCanadian short film. [Eugene Hernandez and Brian Brooks in Toronto]

[A full report on the final weekend of the Toronto International Film Festivalwill be published in tomorrow’s edition of indieWIRE.]

(indieWIRE: 09.13.02) — Deal-making continued in Toronto as the businessweek came to a close. Chen Kaige‘s “Together” was acquired in the biggestdeal of the festival so far. United Artists chief Bingham Ray confirmed thepact in a conversation with indieWIRE last night. Trade reports pegged thecontract at $1.5 million.

Among other deals this week, IFC Films nabbed Jean-Pierre Limosin‘s “Novo“from Celluloid Dreams in advance of last night’s first public screening. Themovie, from a screenplay by Christophe Honore and Jean-Pierre Limosin, starsEduardo Noriega as a photocopy clerk with no long-term memory.

Newmarket‘s new distribution company was active in its first festival.Headed by Bob Berney, the company sealed deals for Jonas Akerlund‘s “Spun“and Susanne Bier‘s “Open Hearts” (Elsker dig for evigt) from Denmark.

It was a year of change for the biz side of the Toronto International FilmFestival. The Rogers Industry Centre, home of all biz activity, moved to theSutton Place leaving the event without a heart as press facilities remaineda 15- to 20-minute walk away over at the Four Seasons. Many European buyersand sellers were housed at the Sutton Place while American industry typeslodged near the Four Seasons, at the Hotel Intercontinental, and at the ParkHyatt, last year’s industry center home. Professional attendees grumbledabout the split and remain hopeful that a unified venue will be found fornext year.

“There were growing pains this year,” one leading industry exec toldindieWIRE yesterday, citing logistical problems and overcrowded screenings.“The festival is partly a victim of its own success.” Yet, the playerremained confident that organizers will react quickly and make changes asthey have in the past.

Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo Film Sales saw a jump in business inToronto this year and noticed a long-anticipated optimism in the market. “Ayear after September 11, people are back and buying films,” Barendrecht toldindieWIRE yesterday. “Finally we seem to slowly get this past us.” [EugeneHernandez in Toronto]

>> AMMI Set To Kick Off Cinematography Bonanza

(indieWIRE: 09.13.02) — Beginning tomorrow, the American Museum of theMoving Image in Queens, New York will begin its second annual “Master Class:The Art of Cinematography.” Four leading cinematographers will participatein the intensive series of screenings and discussions, held every Saturdayand Sunday through the end of the September. The program will pay tribute tosuch legendary directors of photography as Gordon Willis (best known for“The Godfather” films), who will present and discuss his work on “Penniesfrom Heaven,” “All the President’s Men,” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo“; andConrad Hall (“Road to Perdition,” “American Beauty“), who will introduce“Day of the Locust,” “In Cold Blood,” and “Searching for Bobby Fischer“.

Representing the younger generation of innovative cinematographers are EdLachman and Ellen Kuras. Lachman, who collaborated on Todd Haynes‘ upcomingfestival fave “Far From Heaven,” will introduce Steven Soderbergh‘s “TheLimey” and show clips from other recent films. Ellen Kuras will presentSundance double-winner “Personal Velocity” and “Summer of Sam,” and talkabout her collaboration with Spike Lee, her award-winning forays intodigital video and her work on other studio projects.

“The cinematographers featured in this year’s Master Class have worked bothinside and outside the Hollywood system, yet each has maintained a distinctvoice and style,” said chief film curator David Schwartz in a preparedstatement. “The master class series offers a unique opportunity for thepublic to meet these remarkable artists, and see some of their finest work.”Tickets are available at $16/day for the public, $10 for Museum members. Aspecial $40 series ticket good for all screenings is available for membersonly. For a complete schedule of programs, visit www.ammi.org or call718.784.0077.

As part of a special three-part series on female cinematographers, indieWIREwill feature in-depth interviews over the next few months with Master Classparticipants Kuras, Lisa Rinzler (“Three Seasons,” “Pollock,” “LoveLiza“), and Maryse Alberti (“Poison,” “Crumb,” “The Guys“), discussing theirmost recent projects. [Erin Torneo]

>> indieWIRE: BUZZ for Friday, September 13

indieWIRE presents its weekly column focusing on recent items on the radarin the indie film community.

NEWS CHATTER

P.O.V. VISITS JASPER: The doc “Two Towns of Jasper,” which has been drawingsteady acclaim on the festival circuit, has been picked up by PBS‘ “P.O.V.”and will have its broadcast premiere on January 22. Whitney Dow and MarcoWilliams directed “Jasper” and used an unusual filming approach. To studythe emotional and political climate of Jasper, Texas, during the trial forthe murder of James Byrd, Jr., Williams filmed the black community while Dowfilmed the white community. The National Black Programming Consortia is alsohelping to present the broadcast, and the NBPC is also co-presentingP.O.V.’s final film of the season, “Brother Outsider: The Bayard RustinStory.”

GOTHAM FOR GRABS: Finally, all that money you’re wasting on eBay couldbenefit a cause close to your heart. The IFP Gotham Awards Online CharityAuction is running on eBay through October 1 (and there will also be severalitems up for silent auction during the September 26 Gotham Awards). Itemscurrently up for bid include a trip to AMC‘s Movie Camp (a one-weekmovie-making course from AMC and the New York Film Academy), Tribeca FilmFestival memorabilia, and an IFC “Dinner for Five” poster signed by JonFavreau (amusingly touted as “A must for the collection of any autographseeker!”). Other offerings may include signed scripts, premiere tickets, orwardrobe items. All proceeds benefit the IFP New York‘s diversityinitiatives such as Project Involve/New York and the Gordon ParksIndependent Film Award. For details, visit ifp.org and click on the GothamAwards Auction button.

THE JOHN & ROSIE SHOW: In other Gotham Awards news, the IFP announced thatJohn Turturro and Rosie Perez will host this year’s event (marking thefirst times the ceremony has had co-hosts). The organization namedfashionista Miuccia Prada the Gotham honorary chair. The awards ceremonywill be held September 26 at Chelsea Piers in New York, and it will air onBravo on September 29. Last year’s host was the inimitable Andy Dick.

GRANTS THE “HARD” WAY: Cynthia Plaster Caster, the groupie/”outsider artist”who is known for her famed castings of rock star genitalia, has created anot-for-profit organization to raise money for artists, musicians, andfilmmakers. Money for the Cynthia P Caster Foundation’s grants will beraised from straight donations as well as sales of T-shirts, drawings andher infamous castings, including a Jimi Hendrix member that starts at $1500.(Feminists will be happy to hear that Ms. Caster is also now castingbreasts.) Interested art enthusiasts looking for something new for themantel, or filmmakers looking for funds, can visit cynthiapcaster.org fordetails.

FUNDS IN FLA.: Florida’s Enzian Theater, one of a very few certifiably coolthings in Orlando, has been awarded a $30,000 grant by the Darden RestaurantFoundation. The theater will use the money for renovations and to continueto produce Popcorn Flicks in Winter Park, a series of screenings of classicmovies (with free popcorn). Scheduled renovations at the Enzian, which hoststhe annual Florida Film Festival, include seat replacements. The theater hasbeen around for more than 17 years, and says it has served more than 900,000patrons.

SPOTTED IN TORONTO

Outside of the Church of the Redeemer in Toronto, filmmaker Francis FordCoppola with United Artists chief Bingham Ray. The pair posed for a quickphoto for indieWIRE’s iPOP section (see today’s iPOP page), and Coppolasigned a few autographs before heading off to a late-night meeting with Rayto discuss a new project.

French superstar Catherine Denueve holding court in a booth at Rosewater,for Focus Features‘ intimate party following the gala screening of FrancoisOzon‘s “8 Women.” We commented that this beautiful diva could teach a coursein how to smoke a cigarette.

“Oh, they look at you as though they’re listening to you, the writer, as youmake the sounds we associate with speech; but really they’re waiting,thinking private thoughts about fingernail colors and evening traffic on theVentura Freeway, waiting to see if the director is listening to you. Andthen they listen to the director.”— In the New York Times, “Traffic” writer and “Abandon” director StephenGaghan writes about how screenwriters get no respect.